Supporting Communities Welcomes Ian McCrickard as New Board Chair

Meet Ian McCrickard, the new chair of Supporting Communities and a leader who knows the housing landscape of Northern Ireland like the back of his hand. With 38 years of experience at the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), Ian isn't just stepping into a new leadership role; he's bringing a lifelong commitment to community empowerment to the job!

From serving as District Manager in Downpatrick and Lisburn to becoming a Regional Manager in Belfast, he's always been passionate about one thing: putting communities at the heart of housing services.

“When I joined the NIHE as a graduate trainee in 1983, the NI Tenant Action Project (the precursor to Supporting Communities) was in its early stages. It was a very small, localised organisation delivering tenant support in very specific areas.  The organisation has grown so much over the years that it now provides services and support across NI and the Republic of Ireland."

Looking back at Supporting Communities' history, Ian highlights the charity’s role in developing effective tenant engagement in Northern Ireland. “Establishing and maintaining the Housing Community Network and Central Housing Forum, in partnership with the Housing Executive, has been a remarkable success that gives tenants and customers a real say in policy development and how services are delivered.  Supporting Communities should be very proud of this achievement over the last 40-plus years.”

During his years as Assistant Director of Housing Services, Ian was responsible for strategy and policy development, budget management, personnel management and IT development - all skills that are essential for a growing organisation! An important part of his portfolio was developing and implementing the NIHE’s Community Involvement Strategy and managing the Supporting Communities Service Level Agreement, making him an ideal addition to the board. Ian knows exactly where we have come from and completely understands our main stakeholder's needs.

Looking ahead, Ian plans to continue developing the organisation's key services while seizing new opportunities available to the charity via its trading subsidiary.

"Our focus is simple but crucial," he explains. "We must maintain and improve our services to partner agencies and the communities we serve. This means empowering local communities to take an active role in managing their areas and supporting the NIHE's new Community Involvement and Cohesion Strategy for 2024-2029."

A big part of the upcoming year will be developing a new organisational strategy – and he's keen to hear from everyone. "It's crucial we consider the views of all our stakeholders and staff," he emphasises.

When he's not busy with Supporting Communities, Ian's life is all about family and nature. With five (soon to be six!) grandchildren, spare time is a precious commodity. You might find him tending to his vegetable garden or fishing on a local river – he's even serving as Secretary/Treasurer of his local angling club.

For those who know Ian, his appointment feels like the perfect fit. With his deep understanding of community housing and unwavering commitment to tenant empowerment, Supporting Communities is in excellent hands.

Welcome aboard, Ian!